Gearshift for a vehicle simulator having a solenoid for imposing a resistance force

Abstract

An apparatus for creating a realistic feel for a simulated gearshift includes a simulated gearshift for a simulated transmission in a simulated vehicle and has a gearshift lever and a simulated shift pattern for simulating the look and movements through an actual shift pattern of an actual gearshift in a actual vehicle. A pivoting mechanical coupling couples the gearshift lever to a housing for allowing the gearshift lever to pivot about at least two axes. A solenoid is coupled to the pivoting mechanism and has a control signal input for receiving a control signal that controls the amount of force applied to the pivoting mechanism to cause resistance to movement by the shift lever along at least one of the axes. A control computer generates to apply an amount of force to the pivoting mechanical coupling which simulates the actual forces which would be felt by said operator in making the corresponding movement of the gearshift in an actual vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A gearshift for a simulated vehicle, said gearshift comprising: a gearshift lever;   a first axle connected to said gearshift lever so as to provide movement of the gearshift lever along a first axis;   a second axle normal to said first axle connected to the gearshift lever so as to provide movement of the gearshift lever along a second axis;   a first position sensor connected to said gearshift lever for transducing mechanical position along said first axis into a first sensor signal;   a second position sensor connected to said gearshift lever for transducing mechanical position along said second axis into a second sensor signal;   means for selectively locking the gearshift lever in a plurality of predetermined positions and for providing variable resistance when shifting said gearshift lever out of and between said plurality of predetermined positions;   a solenoid in communication with said locking and resistance means to selectively prevent movement of said locking and resistance means and to provide variable resistance to said locking and resistance means when shifting said gearshift lever into as well as between said plurality of predetermined positions, said solenoid controlled by a solenoid signal; and   a control unit which simulates an engine and a transmission, and generates engine and transmission modeling information, said control unit responsive to said first and second sensor signals and at least partially therefrom determines when to generate said solenoid signal so that said locking means secures said gearshift lever in one of said predetermined positions and when to modulate said solenoid signal so that a selected resistance is applied to said locking and resistance means.   
     
     
       2. The gearshift defined in claim 1, wherein said control unit includes means for modulating said solenoid signal so that a selected resistance is applied to said gearshift lever by said locking means. 
     
     
       3. The gearshift defined in claim 1, wherein said control unit further determines gear synchronization and clutch disengagement before determining when to generate or modulate said solenoid signal. 
     
     
       4. The gearshift defined in claim 2, additionally comprising a clutch position sensor in electrical communication with said control unit. 
     
     
       5. The gearshift defined in claim 2, wherein said control unit imposes a force to restrain movement of said gearshift lever when moving through a synchro band. 
     
     
       6. The gearshift defined in claim 2, wherein said transmission modeling information includes simulated transmission torque data. 
     
     
       7. The gearshift defined in claim 2, wherein said locking and resistance means includes a rotatable arm connected on one end to the piston of said solenoid and a spring bias, a detent plate coupled to said gearshift lever selectively engaging with a nub on the rotatable arm. 
     
     
       8. The gearshift defined in claim 2, wherein said first position sensor includes a potentiometer. 
     
     
       9. The gearshift defined in claim 2, wherein said second position sensor includes a potentiometer. 
     
     
       10. The gearshift defined in claim 2, wherein said predetermined locking positions are defined by a gearshift gate. 
     
     
       11. The gearshift defined in claim 10, wherein said gearshift gate includes a rotatable arm pivotally secured on one end to the inner face of the gate and a spring bias coupled between the other end of the arm and the gate for resisting entry of the gearshift lever into a simulated reverse gear position so as to prevent inadvertent shifting into reverse. 
     
     
       12. A gearshift mechanism for a driver training system, comprising: a gearshift lever that generates gearshift lever position signals in response to movement of said gearshift by an operator;   a locking mechanism capable of selectively locking said gearshift lever in a plurality of gearshift lever positions and providing a variable resistance when shifting said gearshift out of and between said plurality of gearshift positions;   a solenoid coupled to said locking mechanism that selectively prevent movement of said locking mechanism and provides variable resistance to movement of said mechanism; and   a control unit which simulates an engine and a transmission by producing data including a level of torque applied through said simulated transmission and a series of slip ratios between gears of said simulated transmission and based at least partially thereon determines whether resistance to the movement of said gearshift lever from said first gearshift lever position to said second gearshift lever position should be applied, said solenoid control unit communicating a solenoid control signal to said solenoid based on such determination, said solenoid control signal varying the force generated by said solenoid and thereby varying the mechanical resistance of said locking mechanism to movement of said gearshift lever into as well as out of said gearshift positions.   
     
     
       13. The gearshift defined in claim 12, wherein said locking mechanism includes a rotatable arm connected on one end to the piston of said solenoid and a spring bias, a detent plate coupled to said gearshift lever selectively engaging with a nub on the rotatable arm. 
     
     
       14. The gearshift defined in claim 12, wherein said resistance data is responsive to clutch position. 
     
     
       15. The gearshift defined in claim 12, wherein said resistance data is responsive to transmission torque. 
     
     
       16. The gearshift defined in claim 12, wherein said resistance data is responsive to the relative slip ration of the gears to be engaged. 
     
     
       17. The gearshift defined in claim 12, wherein said resistance data is responsive to positioning the gearshift lever in a synchro gate. 
     
     
       18. The gearshift defined in claim 12, wherein said solenoid control signal is responsive to a pulse width modulation circuit so that varying of solenoid force is accomplished cyclically according to a duty cycle. 
     
     
       19. The gearshift defined in claim 12, additionally comprising position sensors for determining the position of the gearshift lever in an X-Y coordinate system. 
     
     
       20. The gearshift defined in claim 19, wherein said solenoid control circuit includes a software filter so as to limit slew rate of said position sensors.